Loving Life!! (Cheesecake Swirl Brownies)

What an awesome day..  I spent the majority of it in the kitchen and that makes me one happy Mama..  I don't know what it is about being in there cooking and baking for family and friends that makes me so happy,  but it does..  I made so much today.. it started off with a Plain Cheesecake this morning at 5am..  and it is so gorgeous..  then I made Vegetable Barley Soup and Cheesecake Swirl Brownies to take to work tomorrow.., then cookies.. lots of cookies..  Snickerdoodles, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter..  then I shifted gears and made bread..  Garlic Knots and Italian Parmesan Loaves,  and finally made dinner for tonight Spicy Peanut Noodles with Chicken and Stir Fry Vegetables..  I love doing this..  it is my passion,  my calling and one day I will own my own cafe/coffee shop/bakery..

Cheesecake Swirl Brownies

5 tbsp butter
1/4 c semi sweet chocolate chips
1 c flour
1/3 c cocoa
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
1 1/4 c sugar
2 tbsp coffee
1 tsp vanilla

6 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 c sugar
1 egg

preheat oven to 350 degrees.. In a heat proof bowl or measuring cup melt the butter and the chocolate chips.. stir well and set aside to cool..  in a bowl mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt..  make a well in the center and add the eggs, sugar, coffee and vanilla.. mix well..  pour into a greased 9x13 pan..   with a mixed beat the cream cheese, sugar and egg until well combined..  drop by tbsp onto the brownie batter in the pan,  with a knife swirl in until marbled..  cook for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean...

Saturday!!! (Homemade Tortillas)

Saturday's off are few and far between..  this one has been something..  My poor Mamf's is a sick little girl..  she was up all night with an upset tummy and we had some funny conversations..  It has been a laid back day,  just taking it slow and keeping her as calm and quiet as possible.. she hasn't eaten anything but a banana today and wanted to cook something she liked,  rice,  that is good for an upset stomach and sort of bland..  but for everyone else I was in the mood for Mexican..  so I cooked some ground Chicken Breast with onion and garlic in olive oil added some taco sauce I got from Kroger for $1.00 and let it simmer for a while..  I also added a little water..  I also made refried beans..  I heated olive oil in a pan,  added onion and garlic and cooked it for a while and then added leftover pinto beans to the pan with the juice..  heated it through until it was boiling,  added homemade taco seasoning and taco sauce..  then let .   it simmer, stirring often until it is thick..   I got the Tortilla recipe from one of my favorite sites.. BudgetBytes.com..  

Homemade Tortillas

1 c wheat flour
1 c all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp oil
3/4 c warm water

Mix together and then turn out onto a floured board..  knead for about a minute and then let sit 10 minutes..   divide the dough into 10 to 12 equal sizes and roll into balls,  using a rolling pin roll each one on a floured surface until very thin,  being careful to keep it as circular as possible..  cook in a hot dry pan for a few minuted on each side..  the tortilla will bubble up and blister a little bit..  stack on a plate and keep warm until all are cooked..

Super Moon Tuesday!!! (Oven Fajitas, Spanish Rice)

It is another lovely Tuesday..  one of my busiest days at work.. and I am usually alone..  I did get 5 Healthcare Salesplanners completed today..  what a mess though...  the next few weeks are going to be crazy..   Tonight I am trying a new recipe.. Oven Fajitas that I found on one of my favorite blogs/websites..  Budgetbytes.com...  Beth M is a genius when it comes to food and breaking down how much it cost..  I already had the ingredients..  I tend to buy extra when things go on sale and then don't have to buy it at a much higher price..  you can mix your own seasonings or buy the packet..  I had everything already so I just mixed it..

Oven Fajitas

1 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tbsp paprika
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp red cayenne pepper
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tbsp cornstarch

mix together and set aside

1 large onion, halved and sliced
2 green bell peppers, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
4 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 lb chicken breast, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lime
8 6 inch tortillas
toppings of your choice

In a 9x13 dish mix the vegetables and chicken,  sprinkle with the oil and spices and then toss together with your hands until evenly coated..  bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes..  When cooked through squeeze the juice of a lime over and serve on the tortillas

Spanish Rice

cooked rice 3 c or more
1 can tomatoes with chilis
1/2 c salsa
1/2 c water..
salt and pepper to taste

mix together in pan and heat over medium low heat, stirring often and adding more water as needed..  can add spices to make it hotter..

What is up with this weather?!?!?!?! (Homemade Tomato Soup)

It has been a little while since I last posted..  life has been busy..  work has been crazy with everyone going back to school and everything..  I also have another stress fracture in my foot..  fun times..  Boo has been doing some cooking for me so I can rest my foot when I get home.. which helps so much..  So tonight,  because of the weather I decided to make Tomato Soup for dinner.. it is a quick recipe and I switched it up a little..

Homemade Tomato Soup

Olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
2 c chicken broth
salt and pepper
Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red chili pepper, onion powder, paprika, seasoned salt
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 c seasoned bread crumbs

In a large sauce pan heat olive oil,  add the onion and garlic and cook for about 5 minutes..  add the tomatoes, chicken broth and seasonings and bring to a boil..  turn heat down and let simmer for about 20 minutes..  add the bread crumbs and let cook another 5 minutes or so.. taste and adjust seasonings..  serve with crusty bread and a salad or grilled cheese..  tonight we had grilled cheese..  Pepper Jack, Cheddar, Swiss and American..